GRENADA VISIT OF ROBERT CARHART

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000941

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA VISIT OF ROBERT CARHART

REF: BRIDGETOWN 930

Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: INR analyst Robert Carhart arrived in
Grenada on June 28, for a one-day orientation visit. With
rumors floating around Grenada that the Prime Minister might
call elections either in the fall of 2007 or in early 2008,
Charge d'Affaires Karen Jo McIsaac and Carhart met with
political party officials from the ruling New National Party
(NNP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
They also met with Grenada's Chief Forestry Official and had
lunch with the resident OAS representative. END SUMMARY

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
--------------


2. (U) Charge and Carhart met briefly with Grenada's Chief
Forestry Official Allan Joseph to pass on a message from
USDA. Charge was asked by Minister for Agriculture Gregory
Bowen for help on phyto-sanitary issues so that Grenada might
export fruits and vegetables to the United States. Charge
passed to Joseph the message from regional USDA Attache Omar
Gonzalez, resident in Miami, that the ministry should provide
the USDA with specific ideas about required training.


3. (U) Joseph responded to Charge's question about
conditions at the Mt. Hartman dove sanctuary. He said that
the government had been close to signing a memorandum of
understanding with the NGO RARE to upgrade the sanctuary with
an interpretation center and trails, but that was put on hold
when news of a possible deal with Four Seasons arose. At any
rate, the entire sanctuary area is fenced, according to
Joseph. There is security for the area during the day, but
not at night. Joseph added that there is a security system,
but he is not sure it works properly.

NEW NATIONAL PARTY
--------------


4. (SBU) Carhart and Charge met with several members of the
NNP Executive Committee, including Tony Joseph, Terry
Forrester, and Kennedy Roberts. Discussion centered around
the May 15 reorganization of the Cabinet, including the
creation of a new Ministry for Economic Development and
Planning. The group pointed to the new ministry as the way
forward to ensure sustainable development. The GOG has spent
the last few years building, and then rebuilding after
Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, the infrastructure of roads,
clinics, schools, etc. The party is now planning to focus on
building strong institutions. One of the NNP's primary goals
is to improve education and training. St. George's
University has apparently agreed to develop an institute for
management training to help prepare Grenada's youth for
future jobs. Joseph asked when the U.S. would provide
scholarships for the Caribbean. Charge responded that
Congresswoman Barbara Lee has proposed legislation to that
effect, and we hope that will get through.


5. (SBU) The NNP does not have to call elections until early

2009. Current party focus is on registering voters and
organizing the party in anticipation of the vote. A major
effort is underway to communicate NNP accomplishments and
proposed program to the people in a coordinated way
throughout the year, rather than just before elections.
Joseph noted that the NNP has not been very good at public
relations and the party hopes to improve. In response to a
question, Charge noted that the U.S. does not take sides and
that we expect free, fair, and transparent elections.


6. (C) The just concluded re-sentencing of the Grenada 13
(ref A) has dominated local discussion. The NNP reps pointed
out that Prime Minister Keith Mitchell has called on
Grenadians to accept the ruling, though he did say it was a
"sad day for Grenada". According to Joseph, Mitchell is out
addressing the people about the re-sentencing nearly every
night, to ensure the country remains calm. Roberts asked
where the U.S. has the bodies of assassinated Prime Minister
Maurice Bishop and those killed with him on October 19, 1983.
Charge responded that the U.S. does not have the bodies and
we have shared what we knew with the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
--------------

7. (SBU) Carhart and Charge met with Tillman Thomas, Peter
David, and Glynis Roberts of the primary opposition political
party National Democratic Congress (NDC). Roberts left after
about fifteen minutes and the remainder of the meeting was
dominated by David. Thomas opened the meeting by requesting
information on whether or not Prime Minister Mitchell and
Foreign Minister Elvin Nimrod had in fact renounced their
U.S. citizenship. Thomas said he had recently heard that
they had not, though they claimed they had. Charge explained
that they would have to seek the information directly from
Mitchell and Nimrod; that we do not discuss consular matters
with third parties. She went on to explain the U.S. privacy
act, which appeared to satisfy the men.


8. (SBU) Charge asked whether the NDC has issued its
platform - what the NDC is for - since mostly what she has
been hearing is what the NDC is against. Thomas responded
that the party will very soon set out its platform and
provided a summary of what he indicated would become the
official program. Thomas added that the NDC expects the
Prime Minister will call elections in the fall of 2007,
probably in November. The NDC hopes to be ready.


9. (SBU) David accused the U.S. of neglecting Grenada and
the Eastern Caribbean. He also declared that Prime Minister
Mitchell is a dictator and that the U.S. indifference is
allowing him to continue. David added that Grenadian
institutions are weak and there is growing violence. Thomas
said the U.S. must provide scholarships to Caribbean students
because it is owed to them. Carhart and Charge pointed out
that the U.S. requires that students take personal initiative
to explore the opportunities available to them, that it is
difficult to make the argument to the U.S. taxpayer that they
should fund something that is not available to their own
children. Thomas conceded the point. As with the NNP,
Charge reminded them that Congresswoman Barbara Lee has a
draft bill proposing Caribbean scholarships, which we hope
will move forward. She also told them about the information
available to students through the TAMCC counseling center.


10. (U) Thomas and David were interested in how they can
improve their connections with the USG. Charge suggested
they meet with the Department's Office of Caribbean Affairs
as a first step. When David asked about Congress, Charge
suggested that he work with the Grenadian Ambassador in
Washington to set up appointments.

OAS RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE
--------------


11. (SBU) Carhart and Charge had lunch with the Resident
Representative of the Organization of American States,
Francis McBarnette. McBarnette believes elections will be
held soon, either late this year or early next year. He
asked for U.S. assistance for an election observer mission,
acknowledging that not knowing when elections would be called
makes it hard to plan. Charge explained that funding might
be a problem, but added that Embassy Grenada and Embassy
Bridgetown would likely come up with some observers. Carhart
volunteered to come down and help out. McBarnette said the
new Deputy Secretary General likes to be active and might be
willing to head the delegation.


12. (SBU) When asked about the re-sentencing of the Grenada
13, McBarnette commented the he knows Justice Belle, who was
accused of bias in favor of the defendants. McBarnette told
Charge and Carhart that in a room of lawyers, Belle was the
last person he would have expected to make it to that level,
that he is not particularly bright and easily led.


13. (C) COMMENT: During the visit to the NNP Headquarters,
it was noted that some NNPers were apologetic about the state
of their facility and grounds. In spite of this the NNPers
were well organized, in contrast to their counterparts in the
NDC offices. The general state of readiness, holding town
hall meetings, etc. were quite impressive. The NDC did have
some valid points; including education in Grenada (although
it did reek of Peter David's self-promotion and his own
desire for power). It was also noted how infrequently
Tillman Thomas spoke up during the meeting especially
considering he is the ostensible party leader; he is clearly
a tool for others like Peter David, who harbors perhaps more
ambition and energy than Thomas. Thomas has more useful
street credibility given his past; how much that translates
into useable political currency may be a different matter, as
is David's assertion of public ennui with Mitchell and crew.
EN COMMENT.
OURISMAN